Ryukyu-Ocho Suidi Kobujutsu Association 

	Bylaws		Title & Degree Examination Regulations

Ryukyu-Ocho Shurite Kobujutsu Association
Association Bylaws

Article 1. Objective

The objectives of these bylaws are:

1. To promote mutual relationship and communication among the members of the Ryukyu-ohcho Shurite Kobujutsu Association (hereinafter referred to as the Association).

2. To educate members to have ambitions to improve oneself with a  commitment to contribute to the society through the practice of Kobujutsu.

 Article 2.Organizational Structure

1. The organizational structure of the Association shall have a president/Kaicho, a chairman/Rijicho, a treasurer, a secretary and director/Riji.  The president/Kaicho shall be responsible of assigning all key positions in the organization.

2. The general headquarter of the Association/Sohonbu shall be placed in the U.S.A., where the president/Kaicho resides.

3. National headquarters /Honbu, headed by a National headquarter director/Honbucho shall be established in each country where the Association has members.

4. Since the Okinawa prefecture is the place where karate originated, a special headquarter shall be established with an appointed head-director/Honbucho.

Article 3. General Meeting

The general meeting of the Association will be held yearly.  The president/Kaicho will be responsible for scheduling the appropriate date.

Article 4. Board of Directors

The Board of Directors/Rijikai shall be summoned by the request of the president/Kaicho when there issues that must be addressed.

Article 5. Registration fees and Dojo fees

1. The head of each Dojo shall dictate the registration fees based upon the local economy.

2. Monthly membership participation fees of \5,000 / will be collected to utilize the Dojo.  However, the head of Dojo can collect additional fees for Karate classes if the Dojo offers scheduled lessons.

Article 6. Promotion Test

The examination for official titles, Dan ranks and Kyu ranks shall be performed based on the association’s rank promotional standards.  However, promotion tests for “Shihan”, “Kyoshi” or “Renshi” titles shall be exempted in Japan including Okinawa. Additionally, those who pass the 6^th to 10^th “Dan Degree” examinations shall obtain the title of “Shihan”, “Kyoshi” or “Hanshi”.

Article 7. Establishment of Branches and Sub-branches

1. The Association shall approve and determine all branches and sub-branches.  When a sub-branch requests promotion to a branch, the president/Kaicho shall assemble the Board of Directors/Rijikai and a decision should be rendered by a vote.

2. Motions of the above meetings shall be passed with the approval of a minimum of (50%) fifty percent of the attending directors/Riji.

 Article 8. Organizational Fees

1. Each headquarter, branch and sub-branch shall be accountable for the annual fee of \10,000 to the general headquarter/Sohonbu by the end of March of every year.

2. Annual fees shall be used for the cost of correspondence between the national headquarters/Honbu and the General headquarter/Sohonbu, and the cost for public relations.

 Article 9. Membership fees

1. Each individual member of the Association shall responsible for an annual fee of \10,000 to the General headquarter/Sohonbu by the end of March every year.

2. These fees shall also be used to provide membership cards and certificates of official titles, Dan ranks and Kyu ranks.

Article 10. Rank Promotion Recognition Committee

1. The Association shall establish a Rank Promotion Recognition Committee (hereinafter referred to as Committee) to examine Official Title or Dan rank promotion.

2. The members of the committee shall be the head director’s of National headquarters/Honbucho who are appointed by the President/Kaicho.

3. The president/Kaicho shall be the chairman of the Committee. And he/she is responsible for its business affairs.

4. The Committee shall be called upon by the president/Kaicho as necessary and must be attended by (50%) fifty percent of the membership. Motions shall be passed with approval of (50%) fifty percent of the attending members. However, the president/Kaicho shall make the final decision.

5. Any matters not specifically stated in this article regarding management of the Committee, shall be determined by the Committee.

Article 11. Holding Seminars

1. The Association shall hold an annual seminar once a year. The National headquarters/Honbu shall rotate organizing a seminar.

2. Each National headquarter/Honbu must meet the President’s approval before hosting a seminar.

3. The hosting headquarter shall be responsible for all expenses for the President/Kaicho to attend the seminar.

Article 12. Defamation

1. In case any member who holds an official title or Dan rank is found to defame the Association, the Board of Directors/Rijikai shall determine if his/her title or Dan Degree should be revoked. If the Board of Directors/Rijikai is unable to make a decision of title or Dan Degree revocation for any reasons, the president/Kaicho shall have the authority of articulate the final decision.

2. If the reason for the defamation is extraordinarily offensive, the president will assume the authorization to expel any member from the Association. If warranted, an expulsion shall be announced to the public.

Article 13. Loss of membership

1. He/she who is expelled under the provision of Article 12-2 will forfeit the opportunity of membership of the Association.

2. He or she who withdraws from the Dojo of Rykyu-Ocho Suidi Kobujutsu Association shall lose his/her membership of the Association.

Appendix

These bylaws apply retroactively from January 19, 2003 (date of the inaugural performance).

Copyright 2003 by the North American Beikoku Shido-kan Association. All rights reserved. No part of this web site may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the Association and/or author.